IMO youfix the lighting before choosing anything all bulbs LED 4000K then post pics of the space there is no way to help with those pictures IMO backsplash and wall color are the last 2 things you choose so slow down get the space more finished address the lighting then take pics from further back to show the whole space including the floor.

^^ Are you going to finance that for me? I need to choose something that works in the current situation -- because frankly I don't have the cash to cough up for an entire house of new lighting, it's not a simple fix of switch out the bulbs here.

I’d be concerned that the textured Jute tile would be much harder to keep clean.

"I’d be concerned that the textured Jute tile would be much harder to keep clean."

Good point...

I like the jute. I had a textured backsplash in one of my previous homes and had no issues cleaning it. (I did treat it with sealer)

Just my personal preference - I like the brighter white. I think it does make everything else pop. And actually the Jute is my favorite, I love texture but in this instance, I think the texture competes with your pretty countertop.

Stellar in Seashell is my choice. It’s all going to look so beautiful and warm!

I had a thought - maybe you could use Stellar and Jute. Wherever your stove is going to be, maybe you could frame in with some edging and make a design using the Jute as an accent? Just a crazy thought.

Stellar- it will be easier to keep clean and your wife won't hate you for that!!! Happy wife, happy life!!!

Stellar

"Stellar- it will be easier to keep clean and your wife won't hate you for that!!! Happy wife, happy life!!!

Um, I am a girl...well, woman. DH is a chef, though -- routinely makes a mess and doesn't clean anything up other than his pots/pans and dishes. So, that makes me the cleaning crew. I sometime scratch my head wondering how grease splatters got there.

Ooh, good idea about mixing the Jute and Stellar. I'd still like to maybe do some kind of feature wall behind the stove, the Stellar backsplash and Jute behind the stove and around the pass-through might be a way to incorporate the texture without screaming FEATURE WALL! Although, that may be too uninspired because the colors are so similar. Another thought I had was the plain matte Stellar subway with river rock behind the stove again (but different colors, something corresponding), I actually really enjoyed cooking in front of that wall, it was lovely to look at up close. I don't know. Sigh...

This is a before shot so you can see what I'm talking about:

Looking through pass-thru; the wood ledge of the pass-thru will be done in the granite: (it will be really nice to finally have a soap dispenser in the countertop, and I ordered a new faucet for hot water dispenser -- will all be ORB now)

Any chance that Jute comes in a nice green - pale pastel green or other color that would give it just enough to make it appear different then the Stella if you used them together?

"Any chance that Jute comes in a nice green - pale pastel green or other color that would give it just enough to make it appear different then the Stella if you used them together?"

Unfortunately not. It comes in a Quadrata color, which I looked at but reads a bluish-gray, so that won't work. I don't recall seeing Tessuto color but maybe they have it and I didn't notice, I could call the showroom and check.

The Tessuto looks grayish brown on my monitor but who knows IRL:

Patricia Colwell Consulting gave you good advice.

Hickory cabinets and Esmerelda granite should provide plenty of visual texture, so I'd personally opt for the Stellar white tile. You can make a better decision if the tile supplier could give you a box of each to lay out in a larger area. Otherwise, could you take a photo of each tile sample, then replicate it to appear as a wall, with your kitchen cabinetry and countertop photoshopped into the photo? Ultimately, the decisions are yours, so choose what will make you happy and fit into your lifestyles.

Stellar in 3”x9”.